Race fans watch as the horses parade around the paddock at opening day of Churchill Downs on Saturday. April 26, 2014(Photo: David Lee Hartlage/Special to The Courier-Journal)

With 10 races Saturday compared to last year's 11, the all-sources handle of $6.85 million increased 6.6 percent. Within that the on-track betting of $1.38 million increased 4.7 percent and the off-track betting of $5.47 million was up 7.1 percent.

That came without an agreement for Nevada casinos to take bets on Churchill's races and as players groups organized a boycott. The players' move stemmed from Churchill's decision to increase the money taken off the top of betting pools on races at its namesake track, something that also appears to be a factor in the Nevada situation.

"As a matter of policy, Churchill Downs Inc. does not comment on contract negotiations," spokesman John Asher said of the Nevada situation. "Negotiations are ongoing."

Entering Tuesday's races, no such agreement was in place. The players' groups have said they would continue their efforts.